[Kimberley04]

I took over a new allotment 2 days ago, and am attempting to clear it.

I found today a Bumble Bee nest by an old composting site.

Do I have to leave it ?

If I can remove it, what's the best was to go about it without being stung horrifically ?

[AnnieB]

Best would be to leave it and simply work around it. Just take a bit more care. Bumblebees nests are small usually holding 50-100 bees I think. They tend to be docile and will probably let you share their allotment without any problems.

[ben]

Please please please leave it alone - bumblebees are endangered in the UK.

Bumble-bees will not attack you unless your *really* stress them out - but they will if you mess with their nest.

They are great for pollination, and are not nasty like wasps.

Read more about your new neighbours : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee

[purplebat]

Don't get rid, bees are so important to everyone that has a garden or allotment, it may be that come the autumn they will leave of their own accord anyway. You actually have very little chance of being stung, bees, unlike wasps will not sting indiscriminately, but only when they feel they are threatened. It is possible to simply move a nest with care

Check this out it's really interesting http://www.bumblebee.org/faqNests.htm

[Babstreefern]

I have planted "Bumble Bee Mix" (I got a packet from T&M) in my allotment, and they have come up a lovely shade of blue/purple flowers and the bumble bees love them to bits and attracts loads of them.  I walk past them, sometimes brushing against the flowers with the bees blindly feeding, and they don't sting or bother me.  I just let them get on with feeding.  So I would say, leave the nest, and they won't bother you. 

[Kimberley04]

ok - many thanks for the advice

[savbo]

Buglife are going to be doing a bumblebee project which we can all join in with..
.
http://www.buglife.org.uk/conservation/projectsdev/gardensasnaturereserves.htm

M

[Libby]

We found a bumble bee nest under the old shed.  We worked around them for 2 days, working just inches from the nest and they didn't bother us once.  We have put some roofing tiles suspended over the nest to keep the rain out as we destroyed their roof!